Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Winkelmann, William J. 1856 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 23, 2014, 12:41 pm

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

WILLIAM J. WINKELMANN.

    William J. Winkelmann, well-known dealer in musical instruments and general
musicians' supplies at New Ulm and one of the most enterprising and energetic
business men in that city, is a native of Germany, having been born at
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, near Berlin, in Prussia, May 6, 1856, son of John and
Johanna (Frank) Winkelmann, both natives of that same district, who later came
to America, locating in this county, where their last days were spent.

    John Winkelmann was the third in order of birth of the five children born to
his parents, John Winkelmann and wife, natives of Germany, the former of whom
was a carpenter, the other children having been Carl, Fred, William and
Henrietta. He was trained to the trade of brickmaker and was thus employed in
his native land. He married Johanna Frank, who was the eldest of the children
born to her parents, the others having been Theodore, Julia, William and
Caroline. Grandfather Frank died in Germany in middle life and his widow
afterward came to America and rejoined her children in this county, where she
spent her last days. In the summer of 1867 John Winkelmann and his family came
to the United States, proceeding directly from their port of landage to
Minnesota, locating in New Ulm, the entire trip covering the period from early
in May to the latter part of July. Shortly after arriving here, John Winkelmann
rented the old Jacob Brush farm in Cottonwood township, this county, and there
he made his home for three years, at then of which time, in 1871, he began the
operation of a limekiln near there and was thus engaged until 1881, in which
year he moved to New Ulm and engaged in teaming. He died in 1882, at the age of
sixty-one years. His widow survived him but a short time, her death occuring in
1883, at the age of fifty-nine. They were members of the Lutheran church and
their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children,
namely: Theresa, deceased, who was the wife of Gottlieb Schmidt; Carl, deceased;
William J., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Anthonia, wife of
John Gratz, of Waseca, this state, and Augusta, deceased, who was the wife of
Henry Knees, of New Ulm.

     William J. Winkelmann was eleven years old when he came with his parents to
this country and he consequently had received his elementary education in the
schools of his native land. Upon arriving here his schooling was resumed in the
schools of Cottonwood township and later in the schools at New Ulm. He then
began clerking in a grocery store, at the age of fourteen, and in 1871 changed
from that form of service to that of a clerk in a drug store. After a year and a
half of the latter form of service he abandoned the idea of becoming a druggist
and began clerking in a hotel. He presently returned to the farm, however, and
remained there for several years, at the end of which time he traveled quite
extensively in the South, being thus employed for s4x years. He then located in
Chicago, remaining in that city for three years, after which he returned to New
Ulm and was married. He then established a general express and delivery line, in
connection with his contract to carry the United States mails, and was thus
engaged for fifteen years. In 1911 Mr. Winkelmann established his present music
business and has built up a large trade in that line throughout this part of the
state. He owns a fine business block at the corner of Minnesota and Center
streets and carries a full and complete line of musical instruments of all
kinds, including high-grade pianos and organs, and also a well-selected line of
general supplies for musicians and those of musical tastes. Mr. Wilkenmann is
not only an enterprising and energetic business man, but he is a close student
of the world's best literature and is regarded as one of the best informed men
in New Ulm.

     On December 19, 1890, William J. Winkelmann was united in marriage to Maria
Gley, who was born in Friedland, Mecklenburg-Strelitz March 1, 1855, daughter of
Frederick and Alvina (Bossard) Gley, natives of that same locality, who came to
America in 1866 and settled on a farm in Home township, this county, where they
remained until 1873, in which year they moved to New Ulm, where Mr. Gley engaged
in the mercantile business and so continued the rest of his life, both he and
his wife now being dead. They were the parents of three children, of whom Mrs.
Winkelmann is the eldest, she having had two brothers, Fred and Carl, who are
deceased.

     To William J. and Marie (Gley) Winkelmann seven children have been born, as
follow: Alvina, who married Richard Hicks, of New Ulm; Martha, who married
Julius Thorsthes and lives in Hanska, this county, and Louisa, Clara, Paul,
Gretchen and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Winkelmann are members of the Lutheran
church and their children have been reared in that faith. They take an earnest
interest in the general social and cultural activities of the community and are
held in high esteem by their many friends hereabout. In his political beliefs
Mr. Winkelmann is a Socialist and is an ardent advocate of the principles of
that rapidly growing party.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


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